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One Thousand and One Nights’ Struggle for Survival: Tales of Child Undernourishment in Arab Countries

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  • Vladimir Hlasny

    (Economic Affairs Officer UN ESCWA)

Abstract

This study evaluates young children’s developmental opportunities and anthropometric outcomes across 16 low- and middle-income Arab countries during 2004-2015. We find that disproportionately many children become stunted and underweight, particularly in less developed countries including Mauritania, Somalia and Sudan, but also in the higher-income Iraq and Morocco. Within countries, significant dissimilarities exist in children’s opportunities across different socio-economic strata. These gaps must be tackled by a variety of measures at the local, national and international levels –with buyin from families, local organizations and authorities– including universal pre/post-natal care, immunization, and nutrient supplementation at critical points in children’s development.

Suggested Citation

  • Vladimir Hlasny, 2024. "One Thousand and One Nights’ Struggle for Survival: Tales of Child Undernourishment in Arab Countries," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 249(2), pages 109-155, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:hpe:journl:y:2024:v:249:i:2:p:109-155
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    First one thousand days; Early childhood development; Malnutrition; Equality of opportunities; Arab region.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • N35 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Asia including Middle East

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